The Evolution of Gender Wage Differentials and Discrimination in Thailand: 1991-2007--An Application of Unconditional Quantile Regression

Using unconditional quantile regression combined with Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, we study the gender wage differentials over the whole distribution in Thailand from 1991 to 2007. A V-shape pattern of the overall gender gap is observed in each year, most attributable to the wage structure effect (“discrimination”), and persistent sticky floors are documented. We also develop a “double decomposition” method to analyze the over-time changes in gender wage gaps, and find that the degree of gender inequality in the Thai labor market has improved compared to the 1990s, while relative changes in characteristics explained only very small part of the total changes.